Chilinji Pass Trek

The Chilinji trek, situated at an impressive altitude of 5140 meters, serves as a vital link connecting the Chapursan valley in Upper Gojal with the Iskoman valley in Ghizer.

The story of the Chilinji pass begins in 2009 when we first learned about this challenging mountain pass. We initially considered crossing it while traveling from the Ishkoman valley to Broghil and Karomber Lake. When we arrived in Swinj, hoping to find porters who could assist us in conquering the Chilinji pass, we discussed the possibility with the local Gujjars. To our surprise, they unanimously declined to accompany us and rejected the idea of crossing Chilinji, citing the pass's extreme difficulty. Looking back, after having successfully crossed Chilinji from the Chapursan side, navigating the crevasses and scree, we now realize that being refused by the porters back then was a stroke of luck. Considering that we lacked the appropriate technical equipment at the time and weren't as technically proficient, attempting Chilinji would likely have resulted in a catastrophic outcome, particularly from the Chapursan side, where the ascent is incredibly steep.

In the subsequent years, the region beyond Baba Ghundi was declared restricted by security agencies due to its proximity to the Afghan border. Last year, we received news of two groups successfully crossing the pass. Following this, we began preparing for our own Chilinji expedition. My initial priority for this year was to traverse the Central Asian states, but when that plan couldn't materialize, Chilinji became the clear and compelling objective. It took us seven long years of effort and preparation, but we eventually reached the summit of the Chilinji pass, making our achievement all the more rewarding.